Dermatology Blog

It is physically impossible to shrink your pores since it is something genetic that you inherited from your parents, but you can visually reduce the size of your pores by keeping a healthy and clean regimen and making sure that your pores are not clogged with debris, oil, dead skin, bacteria, and makeup.

Exfoliate: Try exfoliating twice a week with a gentle scrub to wash away debris, oil, dead skin, and bacteria. These cause breakouts and also make your pores more noticeable. Do not over exfoliate as that takes away your natural oils, and end up making your skin raw. Also, do not use harsh scrubs as these will also damage your skin. Once you are done exfoliating, you will want to pat your skin dry with a clean cotton towel.

Steam: Steaming once a week is a great way to open up your pores naturally and releasing the dirt and bacteria that would be otherwise clogging your pores. An easy and inexpensive way to steam is to boil a pot of water and put it on a heatproof surface. Then, hold your face over the open pot with a towel covering your head so you create a closed space for your face. Keep in that position for 5 minutes. When you are finished rinse your face with lukewarm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Mask: After you are finished steaming it is best to apply a mask afterwards since your pores will be opened up and they can better absorb the nutrients from the mask. There are many different kinds of masks that you can use such as an egg mask, honey mask, and clay mask. Clay masks are useful for breakouts and help with oil control as well as pore size. Apply your mask to your face while avoiding the under eye area as that part of your skin is sensitive. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Cleanse:Cleansing your face every morning with a natural wash helps maintain your skin health and also helps with keeping your pores clean. Try not to use any harsh washes as you are cleansing your face every morning and a gentle foam wash will usually do the work.

Natural astringent:Also try using a cotton pad with a natural astringent on it to cleanup any impurities off your face. Witch hazel is a good natural astringent and it helps shrink your pores while also helping in oil control.

Moisturize: When moisturizing your face, you want to use a light weight and oil free moisturizer. These are less likely to clog your pores while still being able to keep your face properly hydrated. Try to pick a moisturizer that has either rice or aloe in it. Rice water helps with blemishes and is excellent for oil control while keeping your skin hydrated. Aloe is a great natural moisturizer that also tightens the skin and helps with blemishes.

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